Apparatus for quick cyaniding of precious metals.



P. A. BRANGIER &VR. LUGKENBACH. APPARATUS FOR QUICK GYANIDING 0F PRECIOUS METALS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

UNTTED ATENT FIERRE ARMAND BRANGIER. OF` AGNEW, CALIFORNIA, AND RGYER LUCKENBACH, OFl

HILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

APPARATUS FOR QUICK CYANIDING OF PRECIOUS METALS.

estratti.

lie it known that we, lnnuui ARMAND `Erstaunen. ot' .-rgnew. county ot' ranta Clara,

'paratus for the rapid dissolving of .gold and silver trom the complex sultid and silicious ores with which they are associated, and which cannot be quickly treated by present methods. lt is particularly adapted to the treatment o t' low grade orcswith a high recovery of 'alues'in a single continuous operation, thus dispensing with the eX- pensive cyanid tank methods in present use, and dissolving the values within the time `required to pass by gravity through the apparatus; and etlecting a radical saving in time, labor and equipment. 4

The invention consists in the combination of parts and in details ot' construction which will be more fully explained by ret'erence to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a perspective of the device in partial section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of an air chamber, and its curved bottom plate. Fig. 3 is a detail ot' a plate anode.

In carrying out our invention we employ a tank A into which the ore pulverized in the oxidizing solution containing cyanid is delivered. From this tank the ore is delivered by a pump as at 2 into a hopper or reeeiver 3, from which it passes into the cyanid apparatus. This apparatus consists ot' a series ot plates 4 over which the liquid is adapted to run in thin streams. These plates are disposed within a slliicc\vay, and as here shown they are inclined in opposite directions so that the liquid tlows over one series of plates, then is returned over another beneath the first one and so on, and

thus over as many series of plates as may be' Speccatn of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 22, 1909.

Patented May 2st, lfltltlt.,

serial No. 519,086.

toms of these air chambers are made convex` as shown in transverse section Fig. 22, so that; the tendency ot the pulp is to settle toward the sides. Compressed air pipes or passages (5 are so located as to discharge air under pressure within these air chambers and toward the center. Thus opposing currents of air act to violentlyagitate the pulp, causing` an attrition of the particles of ore, one against the other, and a rapid scouring oxidizing etl'ect. lt also tends to break up the globules of hydrogen gas that are re leased during the process and which envelop the metallic atoms, thus allo-wing them to be more quickly `acted on, and dissolved by the cyanid. The. succession of these plates and air chambers is so disposed that they present a large continuous surface for altersolution, as shown at 7, so tl-iat the pulverized ore will be electrolyzed before being delivered into. thel above describedappai tus, and we thus increase the solvent action of the cyanid, and more readily overcome the refractory nature of the ore, and also to eleetrolyze the material within the apparatus by placing anodes 7a in the plates set in a non-conducting ring, the plates being connected as eathodes,

In practice we may employ a plate surtace ot' approximately 100 feet more or less7 having ten troughs or sluiees about ten feet. long by three feetwideq two-thirds of the length being they hollow heated plate surtaces, and one-third the air agitating inclosed chambers. This arrangement provides a very compact forni of apparatus having large operating surfaces, and the dissolving of the values is effected in a single lcontinuons operation. The plates are set at a slight angle sufficient to permit a` free movement of the pulp containing liquid by gravitation, so that a large amount ofinaterial can be handled daily. The precious metal having, in this part. of the apparatus,

been released-from its associated ganoue, and now in solution, may be delivered into any suitable apparatus by which the valuable metals may be recovered.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination in an apparatus for lixiviating and recovering precious metals, of a sluice, a series of superposed alternating heated plates, and air chambers, and means to inject air under pressure into the passing material.

2. The combination in an apparatus for recovering precious metals, of a sluice, a series of superposed, inclined heated plates, and air chambers forming continuations of said plates through which material is caused to pass, and means to inject air under pressure into said chambers.

The combination in an apparatus for the recovery of precious metals, of a sluice, a series of inclined heated plates over which material xaused to flow, air chambers through which the material can llow from each of the. lates, electrical connections with the lates torming cathodes, and insulated ano( es set in the plates.

4. The combination in an apparatus for the recovery of precious metals, of a sluicc, a series of superposed alternating oppositely inclined heated plates, air chambers torniing contintentionsl beneath each of said plates, each air chamber discharging upon the 11p-- per end of the next heated plate means to inject air under pressure into said chambers, and cimnections whereby a current of electripitry1 may bepassed through the apparatus.

o. the eonmmation in an a )paratus for recovering precious metals, mi a sluice, a series ot superposcd inclined alternating heated plates, with air chambers interposed and return channels between said plates, means to inject air under pressure into the channels, electrical connectionsdirectly with the upper plates and insulated connectionsI ,with the bottom plates.

(l. lnan apparatus for the recovery of precious metals, a sluice, inclined heated plates over which the pulp containing liquid [lows by `gravitation, chambers adapted to receive the pulp from the heated plates, and means for discharging com )ressed air into said chambers and through the pulp.

7. ln an apparatus tor recovering precious metals, a sluice, inclined heated plates over which the pulp llows by gravitation, chambers adapted te receive the pulp from said plates, said chambers having convex botwhich thepulp flows by gravitation, cham-- bers adapted to receive the pulp from said plates, said chambers having convex bottoms, with the convexity in the line of travel of the pulp, perforated pipes located on each side at the lower edges ot' the plates, through which pipes air under pressure ma7 be discharged into and through the passing pulp.

9. In an apparatus for the recovery of precious metals, a sluice, a series' of oppositely inclined heated plates, convex bottomed chambers connecting with the discharge end ot' each plate adapted to receive the pulp Vfro'm the plates, perforated air pipes located at the sides and lower angles ot' the chambers and means to discharge air through the passing pulp` said air chambers delivering successively upon the upper ends ol the succeeding plates, insulated plugs located in the bottom plates and electrical connections therewith, and electrical connections with the opposed plates.

l0. ln an apparatus t'or the recovery of precious metals, a slui'rc. inclined heated plates, and air chambers located therein, u tank and means by which pulp and cyanid solution are delivered thereinto, means for eicctrolyzing the contents r. the tanlt, and means b v which the. material delivered trom the tank upon the uppern'iost of the heated plates.

il. ln an apparatus for the recoveifyY of precious metals, a crmtinuous s( s olf heated plates, and alterna ing compr ed air chambers over and through which the pulp may pass by gravitation, a supply tanlt means by l which the pulp and cyanid solution are delivel-ed thereinto, and electrical connections with the contents ol' the tank and with the plates within the sluice.

ln testimony whereof we have hereunto set, our hands in the presence ot two sul scribing witnesses. 

